Why Is The Sun Dimming For Solar Power Stocks?

Written by: Kapitall08/07/14 - 2:35 PM EDT

Tickers in this article:
SPWR FSLR TSL

By Chris Lau for Kapitall.

Bullishness for solar power peaked this past March, after firms reported strong demand and forecast an even brighter future. Since then, stock prices for many solar plays waned. Last week, SunPower (SPWR) confirmed weakness ahead in the solar energy sector. The firm provided guidance at ranges lower than market expectation.

SunPower earned $0.28 per share in the second quarter. Revenue was $621.1 million, down nearly 5 percent from last year and missing consensus. Looking ahead to 2017, the firm expects its new plant will boost capacity by over 50 percent. The added supply could be negative for the industry as a whole. Before this year, the sector was working off excess supply. Demand finally met supply levels, and this stabilized solar energy prices.

Light forecast

For Q3, SunPower expects revenue will be in the range of $600 million – $650 million on earnings of $0.15 – $0.35 per share. Analysts expected earnings would be at least $0.29 per share. For 2014, the firm expects to sell up to 1.3 GW of solar product. OF the 8.4 GW in its pipeline, 3 GW is from the Americas.

Related investments

First Solar (FSLR) and Trina Solar (TSL) also fell in the month of July. Shares of all companies are all up close to the 50 percent level over a one year period.

Confidence is much higher for First Solar and Sun Power. Each has a forward P/E of 28 and 32, respectively. By contrast, Trina’s forward P/E is just 13. Trina was hurt by the U.S. import duties. The U.S. government is set to impose anti-dumping tariffs as high as 165%. In the medium term, Trina will get hurt, though its tariff rate in June and July as 29.3 percent. Needless to say, First Solar and SunPower will benefit as foreign firms face these tariffs.